Lala: Mr. John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, has initiated the construction of 35 mini-grids and 1,450 home-system energy supplies in the Bono East and Savannah Regions. This development marks a significant step towards improving electricity access in these areas.
According to Ghana News Agency, the project aligns with the Scaling-Up of Renewable Energy Programme (SREP) spearheaded by the ministry. The initiative aims to offer affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions to under-served communities. During the ceremony at Lala, an island community in the Sene East District, Mr. Jinapor emphasized that electricity access would enhance education and healthcare services, stimulate business growth, and curb rural-urban migration.
Mr. Jinapor also highlighted that the SREP plans to install approximately 12,000 net-meter rooftop solar systems nationwide. He reiterated the government's commitment to bridging the energy gap in island communities, describing the program as a strategic investment in rural economies and empowerment.
Upon completion, island and deprived communities in the Sene East District of Bono East, as well as in the Savannah and Oti Regions, are expected to benefit from productive energy use and gender mainstreaming. Mr. Jinapor called on local residents to collaborate with contractors to maximize the project's benefits.
Madam Eunice Biritwum, Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission, affirmed the commission's dedication to achieving SREP's objectives. She mentioned that a regulation for mini-grids has been drafted, consistent with government policies from 2017 and 2019, promoting mini-grid development in deprived areas.
The Volta River Authority (VRA) is tasked with managing the generation and distribution of assets in government-funded mini-grids on Volta Lake. The Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) is developing a tariff framework for mini-grid billing to support the government's flagship energy programs.
Madam Magdalena Wust, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Swiss Embassy in Accra, expressed Switzerland's support for Ghana's energy initiatives. She emphasized the role of energy security in national development, highlighting its impact on innovation, technological deployment, and economic growth, particularly for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).